2008 Audi R8: What Would You Pick?

My vote's for the GT-R or G8. The R8 is too pretentious (and you *know* they're going to ask the full story), while the Evo and STI seem 'childish' in some ways, as if you haven't grown up yet.

The CTS is polarizing, 'nuff said. The GT-R is for those in the know, and the G8 is just a stylin' car that is believably yours.

Then again, I'd be mighty tempted to take the R8, explanations be damned.

I'd ask Karl for the keys to the Ford GT. He brought his to his high school reunion. Maybe he'd want to spread the love.

I would say go with the CTS, C300, or G8. They are nice, understated cars that announce you have made something of yourself but haven't lost your class. The GT-R and R8 are phenomenal cars, but few people would use either as a daily driver. Thus it looks like you are just trying to impress people by showing up in your weekend car (not classy). Save them for when you can actually use them for their intended purpose: great back roads.

GT-R

Rondo.

G8 or the 02 M3 every day super cars and very believable as moderately successful person's cars.

G8 GT = BAD MUTHA F%&$*#

E46 M3 = Still strikes fear in my rear view mirror

The 308 would be perfect, since it feels like high school again.

Too bad it is gone.

The CTS. Its sporty, mature, and comfortable. Also it hasn't been on a roadtrip yet... Oh don't forget it has the cargo space the gt-r lacks...

-Cj

just take the R8 and hire a model to be your date. lie through your teeth and make them envy you. i'm sure you wont be the only one.

or

just take the R8, cuz you know you want to, and be yourself.

If you're asking then you must be worried about being conspicuous - or not being conspicuous enough. Assuming you can't get GM to lend you that black Camaro floating around (V6 or not), go with the R8. Even in Manhattan, where the slightest glance at a car is socially erroneous, people openly gawk at this beauty. The very worst that could happen is that, well, you get to drive an R8.

take the Fit. they'll see how much smarter you've gotten since high school.

If I were to drive to my High School reunion, it would be over 3000 miles (Vancouver, BC to Kemptville, Ontario). Thus it would have to be a great highway car.

Since I would bring my kids (much more proud of them then any borrowed car), I would likely choose a loaded Honda Odyssey.

R8. Hands down.

hmmm... I would take the G8. Or the GT-R. For the very reasons you pointed out. With the R8 you would have to field questions from anyone who saw you driving it. The G8 is good looking enough to get attention, but not in the R8 kind of way and the GT-R would attract only those that know what it is. The other half might just think it's an overwrought, body cladded 350Z and think you are posuer. Rich, but still posuer, after all, who would do THAT to a 350Z. So I think I would lean more towards the G8.

I don't care what multiple of 10 you are for this reunion, if you don't pick the Audi R8 you loose all credibility as a sane person.

If you take it to impress people you have no relationship with on a daily basis, you are a loser.

If you take it 'cuz it's one of the bitchinest cars on the planet, you are in the right place at the right time, and life is good.

R8 all the way. Face it, you'll have to explain any one of the cars you'd want to take, might as well make it the neatest one there.

Hey Dan,

I'd vote for the CTS or G8 GT. Yes, you read that correctly. :o)

Of course I'd personally want to rock the STI, but I think the CTS or G8 GT are a better match for you and f1mom.

-Loren

I think you'd be fielding a ton of comments if you went with the R8 or GT-R. But the R8 is ever so sumptuously eye-catching...consider that my vote. As exclusive as the R35 is, I think the German would make a bigger statement. From the shallowest point of view, that is...

I wouldn't take the R8 for fear of parking lot dings. Take the Focus with a bumper sticker that says "I Was Too Environmentally Conscious To Bring My Super Car."

The second choice would be the G8. Hey, it still has the 8 in the name! At least the girls can relate to that.

R8 all the way. The real idea is to take a car you'll enjoy driving there and back. Who cares what questions you have to field?

Definitely take the R8....its not pretentious, because you work for an automotive journalism organization. The R8 is definitely the most head-turning car in the fleet.

i'd take the gt-r, the r8 doesn't appeal much to me. The G8 is too close to something I'd could actually own. And i'm a heavy duty gamer, so it would fit.

or from your fleet the 135.

Hmm...I'd probably go with the CTS. The R8 is stylish, but like you already mentioned, you'd have to cook up too much of a fraggle-nackle story. The M3 is menacing and quite stylish too, and is a close second in my book, but with the Bimmer's age, it wouldn't give folks much to talk about (if that's what you're going for at all). The CTS just strikes the best balance between shock value and believability for your intended audience, and fun for you.

135, CTS or G8.

If you took the R8, you're going to have to end up explaining that you took the showiest car of your employer's fleet to your reunion.

With either of the above three, you could explain, "Yeah, this is a nice car, but let me tell you about the other ones in the garage!"

I would drive my own car...

R8 because if it were me, I'd be looking for every chance imaginable to drive that car.

Desmo, I laughed so hard at your post I almost spit my mint at the screen. Well played.

Altimadude takes runner up for best response.

Anyway, I know this is cliche, but forget what people think and take the car best suited for the drive. Nice route with plenty of twisties? Take the best performance tourer not already spoken for. Boring drive on a long straight freeway? Taken a quality midsize cruiser. As you said no one will really see what you're driving anyway, so do what works best for the drive. You know, use a car for what its built for.

Actually, my number one choice would be the M3. There's just something so... phenomenal about that series of M3. It's beautiful, it's fast, it loves to be thrashed. And it's still (somewhat) practical. Sure, a lot more people will have heard of them and you likely won't be THE hit of the party, But it's still a car I wouldn't mind being seen in and will spark the interest of the motorheads. A good way to both be attractive AND not too presumptuous.

After that, the GT-R. Just for the motorheads.

GT-R, but I wouldn't trust valet parking. They can take it for a joy ride!

A normal 911 Carrera already set "cocky-meter" to explode. Bring any GT-R or R8 or those sorts to the union party, I don't think there will be another invitation next year.

R8 or Evo or CX-9 and a backup Aura if the buses are running slow.

I say you keep it real and rock the Grand Caravan ;)

naw, R8! You have the access to it, have fun with it!

Take the 135 or CTS, fairly invisible, but it gets the attention of the right people...

The four cars pictured (including the Smart) scream "look at me!", so unless that's something you want to have happen, I'd go with one of the two I named above....

Who cares about what these other people think? You already said they thought you were a dork -- take the R8, field their questions, and feed the enthusiasm of the real car guys (and gals). Stop worrying about the "perception" of people you don't really give a damn about.
But if you're still worried about what other people think about you, just take the GT-R or the M3. Oh, wait... who cares?!? Take the R8!

Take the M3, hands down, its a bit older but that doesn't really mean anything, and only a real car guy would recognize it. And when they do they won't think you a fool for paying a 40k dealer markup.

The R8 as only gear-heads would know the difference between a GT-R and 350Z.

G8 GT. It's understated, says you're a family man, but still got cajones with the rear-drive V8.

i'm not a nissan guy at all, but i'd still say take the GT-R.

if there is a near by race track the GT-R, if you will be doing some racing on the streets the Pontiac, if you need to score the Audi and if you are suicidal the Smart for the road trip

I'm with slickersdrip. Borrow Karl's Ford GT.

Assuming Karl won't let you do that, I vote R8. It's not your money.

I don't see where the problem is with fielding questions. "How did you get that R8? ummmm welll... I am... uh, paid to try cars like this?" How cool is that? especially at a high-school reunion where everybody breaks out their adolescent self!

Come on, you KNOW you have the coolest job of them all ;-)

if you want to turn heads, then R8, I love the GT-R but like you said, not everyone knows what it is. go with the Audi and maybe the prom queen that you never had enough guts to talk to will come up to you instead

If you don't want to be asked about your car, don't take the GT-R or the R8. The CTS or G8 are both fairly impressive cars that people won't see as ostentatious. I'd also say the 135 would be a good pick. M3s are classic, but yours has the undersize wheels and always looks dirty.

And to answer your question about being a tool, I don't think you would be, as long as you have a good sense of humor about it not being yours. Driving your own R8 to a reunion would be more toolish, IMHO.

I'd say either the M3, 135i or GT-R. But hey, choose whatever floats your boat...

Go in your Miata. I tend to have more respect for a guy that drives a real enthusiasts car even if it isn't some showmobile. As Polonius said "This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man" The other stuff is just eye candy.

Not to knock you or anyone who does this type of thing; but I never could understand the reasoning behind this action. You drive up in a unique car that few will ever experience. For a few hours you MIGHT impress a few people:the shallow and insecure, but the rest of the attendees probably wouldn't care less.

I say just drive up in your own car and just keep it real.....but if you MUST arrive in style, just drive the CTS.

"Besides, no one but the valet (if there is one) is likely to see my borrowed ride."
I rest my case.;-)

I like this reply from huyracing above: "just take the R8 and hire a model to be your date. lie through your teeth and make them envy you. i'm sure you wont be the only one."

That would be the best option. But if you don't want to do that, I would go with the GT-R, CTS, or G8.

If there's any consensus here, it appears to be the "drive what you like the most" argument. So which car do you like the most?

Just take the R8. You're the Director of Vehicle Testing for Edmunds.com, for chrissake. If you can't roll up in a fancy car that you didn't even have to pay for, who can??

Reunions are generally lame and boring anyway. At least it's something to break the ice and give people something to talk (gawk) about. :)

"The CTS. Its sporty, mature, and comfortable. Also it hasn't been on a roadtrip yet... Oh don't forget it has the cargo space the gt-r lacks..."

CJ, in case you haven't notice, the GTR got a very generous size trunk, it is twice as big as the trunk in the G35/G37 coupe. It is more then enough for a roadtrip for 2.

"Just take the R8. You're the Director of Vehicle Testing for Edmunds.com, for chrissake. If you can't roll up in a fancy car that you didn't even have to pay for, who can??"

That is so true. The ultimate jealousy inducer, a free exotic car. And since it is a loaner car, there is nothing pretentious about it.

Or ask Bugatti if you can test the Veyron again :)

Since you're happily married, take the Smart. It shows you a content mature person sans the midlife crisis.

take the fit, and tell them to kiss your fuel efficient ass. ;)

even if it is a lended exotic car, people will still sit there and be like, "why did he bring that if its not even his? to impress?" and you wouldn't want that.

i say the g8, or the gtr, or even the v6 accord.

oh, and the sti would be great too.

+1 on felonious.

In the worst case scenario, do you really care that people you almost never see think your a tool? Random people in traffic already think that when they see you in any of the exotics in the IL garage...

In any case what does your wife say? By taking the r8 or the gt-r would she have to get in and out of the car in, let's say, a slightly "undignified" way?

+2 on felonious.
I still don't understand why, on a blog of enthusiasts, so many are worried about others' "perception." The R8 is a wonderful car -- the only way you'd be viewed as ostentatious is if you act that way. Screw that -- Karjunkie quoted Polonious and I believe that applies here.
... er, not the part about driving your Miata, though.
-1 on chavis10, however. Do not under any circumstance take the Smart. You will still be remembered as a dork.

The R8! Hands down. As much as I love the GT-R and the Evo, they won't blow away ordinary people like the Audi would.

1487 would suggest the Aura. Or a nice Buick LeSabre.

GT-R

I saw my first one last night. It was in the dark gray color......a very impressive machine in person.

R8, it hits just the right spot with everyone.

Uhm, I'm probably the only one who thinks this way, but will alcohol be involved? If so, will you want any? If you do, will your wife be able to drive the car, or will does your company insurance cover that kind of thing?

Under those provisions, my choice is probably the CTS since it's something the wife can drive, or, alternately, it's not Cop bait....

I am from SoCal, too, and driving an R8 that you get paid to drive to your high school reunion is very low on the list of the tool-ish things that are going to happen that night.

Dan...you are an M3 kind of guy. If not that the CTS or the G8. The R8 is a work of art but all exotic cars look like fake chest hair on anybody over 40.

I detailed my 330 for my 35th reunion and the valet thought it was nice.

Send glasses of wine to the girls you wish you knew better and you will have an excellent time. I found out I wasn't the dork I thought I was. If I only knew then what I know now!

The Wife here...

We took the R8 to my h.s. reunion because it was about an hour away, so it was all about getting to drive the car. It was definitely an ice breaker and gave Dan something to talk about with people he didn't know (nothing worse than going to someone else's reunion!). I perfected a "dignified" way to exit the car in heels and a dress (it all has to do with keeping the knees together).

Dan's reunion is about 10 minutes from here. I was actually hoping that he could get our '57 Ford wagon running, but looks like there won't be time for that.

Hmmm. I'd be happy with either the R8 or the GTR. We could take either of those to Cars and Coffee on Saturday morning.

...and if he was going to the reunion without me, I'd make him take the Smart.

Ford Focus?? Come on, it's snazzy. Oh, wait but don't let them see the crappy passenger side door handle that keeps breaking. j/k. I know it's no longer an official long termer, but borrow the Ford GT or if that isn't available I would go R8 or GT-R. It's not like you are bragging about how much money you have since it's not yours. Let everyone see it, maybe do some burnouts and power slides in the parking lot and just have a good time.

I would actually go with the R8 to a high school reunion if I had a choice between the two. It just stands out more. However, the GT-R would be in my own personal garage.

hey what about the merc c 300 - its not pretention but its classy looking?

Well I guess f1mom settled it - the R8 or GT-R. As a husband myself, I know it is Dan's obligation to do what his wife "recommends". Sucks to be him, eh? :D

And LOL about the Smart postscript.

since this is california I would think its coolest to be seen in the vehicle with the best mileage. You may get ridiculed for driving a gas guzzling G8 or R8. Smart is the winner. You will be seen as progressive, smart and "green".

Did I mention that this is Orange County we're talking about? And that I live in the city in which Richard Nixon's presidential library resides?

Don't be a tool. Take the G8 or CTS. It shows that you still like cool cars, but you're an adult. Even if you really did own an R8 or Ford GT you'd look like a dipshit for showing it off at a reunion. (No offense to KB.)

Definitely not something as boring as g8 or CTS. The e46m3 or the r8 for sure... +1 on felonious

The G8 is almost as fast as the M3, is less ubiquitous, has an MP3 jack and has more space and likely a better ride. I'm sure 10 people will pull up in M3s but no one would have a G8.

if you drive the R8 you will be explaining all night long how it's not yours. At least people will just assume a cheaper car is yours and leave it at that.

LOL on F1mom's last comment.

Hope you guys have fun and keep us posted regarding you final choice. I think you'll be alright, provided you don't do a four wheel drift as an entrance, that would be a little tool-ish :)

It depends on what type of person you are. I would take the R8 because I am a German car fan and it is also stunningly beautiful work of art.